Academic & learning testing · Carlsbad · Vista
Learning & Academic Testing in San Diego
When a capable student's grades do not match their ability, testing shows why. We evaluate learning disabilities, ADHD, processing, and giftedness for kids, teens, and adults, and write reports that schools, 504 and IEP teams, and the College Board accept. In person in Carlsbad and Vista.
4.9 on Google · Doctoral-level psychologists · Serving North County since 2018
Who we test
Ages 5+
Students & adults
Where
2 offices
Carlsbad & Vista
Wait to start
1–2 weeks
From booking to first session
Timeline
6–8 weeks
Intake to written report
Start with
A free call
15 minutes, no pressure
What an academic evaluation is
When effort and results are not adding up.
An academic or learning evaluation is a structured assessment a doctoral-level psychologist uses to explain why school performance does not match a student's ability. It combines a clinical interview, cognitive testing (reasoning, processing speed, and working memory), academic achievement testing in reading, writing, and math, and executive-function and attention measures, then produces a written report with a clear learning profile and specific recommendations.
We are a relational, attachment-informed practice, so our evaluators are clinicians first. The report does not just name a problem; it explains what a specific student needs to learn without fighting unnecessary barriers.
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We find the cause, not just the symptom.
Low grades can come from a learning disability, an attention problem, a processing weakness, or anxiety. We test for each directly, so support targets the real reason instead of guessing.
02
Reports schools actually accept.
Our evaluations are written to the standards that districts, 504 and IEP teams, college disability offices, and the College Board accept, with recommendations specific enough to use right away.
03
Strengths as clearly as challenges.
Especially for gifted and twice-exceptional students, the report names what a student is good at alongside what gets in the way, so the plan builds on real strengths.
Who this is for
For capable students who have started to hate school.
The most common reason families come to us is a gap between effort and results. A few signs it is worth an evaluation:
- Your child is bright, but their grades do not reflect it.
- Homework that should take minutes takes hours, sometimes with tears.
- A capable student is starting to say they are "stupid" or that they hate school.
- Reading, writing, or math is a specific, stubborn sticking point.
- A teacher has raised attention, focus, or organization as a concern.
- An older student or adult needs documentation for extended time on the SAT, ACT, GRE, or LSAT, or in college.
We test students from age 5 through college and graduate school, and adult learners too. Whichever it is, the goal is the same: replace "try harder" with a plan that fits how this person actually learns.
Accommodations & giftedness
Testing for school, the College Board, and twice-exceptional students.
Standardized tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE, or LSAT can be stressful for students with ADHD, learning differences, or anxiety. Our evaluations document the learning profile needed to request extended time, a separate room, extra breaks, or assistive technology. Approval is not automatic: the College Board often wants a history of accommodations in school as well, and we help families understand what documentation is most useful.
Beyond standardized tests, our reports are used to secure support through a 504 plan, an IEP, or university disability services, from preferential seating to note-taking support to organizational coaching.
We also provide giftedness and twice-exceptional (2e) evaluations, for students who show advanced ability alongside a challenge such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or anxiety. The report identifies both, so families can pursue gifted placement, enrichment, or accommodations with clear documentation.
What it costs
We post the price so you do not have to ask.
A comprehensive academic evaluation costs $3,000 to $5,000. The fee includes the free consultation, the clinical interview, all testing and scoring, the written report, and the feedback session.
If an attention or emotional question is evaluated in the same battery, for example a learning evaluation combined with ADHD testing, the combined evaluation runs $4,000 to $6,000. We confirm the exact figure for your case on the free call, before any work begins.
- Academic & learning evaluation Cognitive, achievement, and processing testing with a school-ready report and specific recommendations.
- $3,000 – $5,000
- Combined learning + ADHD or emotional One integrated evaluation when an attention or emotional question is assessed in the same battery.
- $4,000 – $6,000
Out-of-network · Superbill provided · HSA / FSA accepted
Comprehensive psychological testing is frequently eligible for partial out-of-network reimbursement. We provide a superbill for CPT codes 96136, 96137, 96130, and 96131; coverage varies by plan, so confirm your out-of-network testing benefits before scheduling.
How it works
What the process actually looks like.
About 9 hours of testing across three to four appointments, plus the feedback session. Nothing surprises you: we tell you what each session is for before you book it.
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The free 15-minute call.
You tell us what is not adding up at school. We tell you whether an academic evaluation is the right tool, what it would involve, and what it would cost. No sales energy.
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Clinical interview.
A conversation about developmental and school history, current impairment, and what you or your child are running into day to day. For students, teacher and school input weighs heavily.
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Cognitive and achievement testing.
We measure reasoning, processing speed, and working memory, then test reading, writing, and math achievement in person, so we can see exactly where ability and output diverge.
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Executive function and attention measures.
Organization, planning, time management, and sustained attention, through performance-based measures and validated rating scales completed by you, family, and teachers.
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Outside expert review and team consultation.
Before the report is finalized, the case is reviewed by our outside consulting expert and presented to our full team, so the learning profile holds up.
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Feedback session and written report.
A feedback session in plain English, then a written report with a clear learning profile and recommendations you can use for a 504, an IEP, College Board accommodations, or college disability services.
The testing team
Six psychologists and a postdoctoral fellow who do learning testing.
Not sure where to start? Our Director of Psychological Testing, Dr. Chelsea Dudley, can match your student with the right clinician. Every evaluation is conducted, scored, and written by the same doctoral-level clinician.
Common questions
Frequently asked learning and academic testing questions.
The questions below come up almost every week. If yours is not here, the 15-minute call is the place for it.
01 What does a learning or academic evaluation involve?
An academic evaluation is a structured assessment a doctoral-level psychologist uses to explain why school performance does not match a student's ability. It combines a clinical interview, cognitive testing (reasoning, processing speed, working memory), academic achievement testing (reading, writing, and math), and executive-function and attention measures, then produces a written report with a clear learning profile and specific recommendations.
02 How do I know if my child needs academic testing?
The most common reason families come to us is a gap between effort and results: a capable student whose grades do not reflect their intelligence, who takes hours on homework that should take minutes, or who is starting to dislike school. Testing tells you whether a learning disability, an attention problem, a processing weakness, or anxiety is driving the gap, so support targets the real cause.
03 Do you test for dyslexia and other learning disorders?
Yes. We evaluate specific learning disorders including dyslexia (reading), dysgraphia (writing), and dyscalculia (math), along with the processing- speed and working-memory patterns that often sit underneath them. The report names the specific disorder where the data supports it and explains what it means for the classroom.
04 Can the report be used for a 504 plan, an IEP, or College Board accommodations?
Yes. Our reports are written to the standards that school districts, college disability offices, and the College Board accept, and they document the learning profile needed to request extended time, a separate testing room, extra breaks, or assistive technology. Note that the College Board often also wants a history of accommodations in school, and we help families understand what documentation is most useful.
05 Do you do gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) evaluations?
Yes. Some students show advanced intellectual ability alongside a challenge such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia, or anxiety. Our evaluations identify both the strengths and the areas of difficulty, so families can pursue gifted placement, enrichment, or accommodations with clear documentation.
06 How much does academic testing cost in San Diego?
A comprehensive academic evaluation costs $3,000 to $5,000. The fee includes the free consultation, the clinical interview, all testing and scoring, the written report, and the feedback session. If an ADHD or emotional question is evaluated in the same battery, a combined evaluation runs $4,000 to $6,000. We confirm the exact figure on the free call, before any work begins.
07 How long does academic testing take, start to finish?
About 9 hours of testing across 3 to 4 appointments, plus the feedback session. From your first appointment to the written report, the full process typically takes 6 to 8 weeks, which we plan around school and application deadlines where we can.
08 What ages do you test?
We evaluate students starting at age 5 through college, graduate school, and adult learners. Measures and recommendations are matched to the age and the setting the report needs to serve.
09 Do you take insurance for academic testing?
We are out-of-network with all plans. Comprehensive testing is frequently eligible for partial out-of-network reimbursement: we provide a superbill for CPT codes 96136, 96137, 96130, and 96131, and HSA and FSA accounts are accepted directly. Coverage varies by plan, so confirm your out-of-network testing benefits before scheduling.
When you are ready
Let's figure out whether academic testing is the right next step.
Fifteen minutes on the phone with our Director of Psychological Testing, Dr. Chelsea Dudley. No pitch, no pressure. By the end of the call you will know what your student needs, what it would cost, and whether we are the right people for it.
4.9 on Google · Out-of-network · Superbill provided · Serving North County since 2018